It blooms from June until September throughout France: lavender covers our gardens with fragrant bouquets that smell of the Mediterranean!
But beyond its famous perfume, Lavandula angustifolia (this is its scientific name) also contains interesting molecules on the health side: tannins, linalool, linalool acetate, geraniol as well as several essential oils (linalyl acetate, cineole, linalool, and borneol , lavandulyl acetate).
A naturally sedative, analgesic and antiseptic plant
Thanks to these compounds, lavender has many health properties: it is sedative (both calming and anxiolytic, which makes it an excellent ally against stress), analgesic (it reduces pain) and antiseptic (it purifies the wounds and prevents the occurrence of infections).
More anecdotally, lavender is also traditionally used to improve digestion (it is a digestive tonic: among other benefits, it fights against bloating), to relieve the feeling of heavy legs (it has a vasodilating effect), to reduce rheumatic pain (thanks to its analgesic effect) or to eliminate lice!
Attention ! Because it contains linalool, lavender can cause (rare) allergies – caution is needed. Moreover, in the event of a chronic illness, this plant cannot in any way replace medicinal treatment: ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice. Finally, in the absence of data, ANSES advises against preparations based on lavender to pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Sources:
- The company of the senses
- 250 natural do-it-yourself remedies – Dr. Claudine Luu, ed. Living Earth.
